UY THE KEY. J. E. TEJ^-JSON- WOODS, F.G.S. 383 



were identical when found in widely separated places, sometimes 

 600 miles apart, it was seen that we here meet with a flora, which 

 has disappeared, but which must have occupied all the table-land. 



Distinct from these deposits, and imbedded in siliceous rocks, 

 other plant-remains are very abundant on the edge of the table- 

 land. These are mainly distinguished by their resemblance to 

 such trees as Cinnamon and other Lauraceae and Myrtaceous 

 plants, Palma?, Cycads, and Ferns. The peculiarity of these 

 remains is that they are not usually accompanied by any 

 carbonaceous matter, but rather impressions in silex, probably 

 deriv^ed from thermal springs. There are not wanting proofs 

 that these are portions of the same flora to which the fruits, &c., 

 belong, which are covered by volcanic deposits. They are certainly 

 late tertiary, and may be pliocene, or even later. 



The most recent of all our formations are the raised beaches 

 and the various drifts and Eolian formations throughout the 

 Continent. The raised beaches are confined to the south side of 

 Australia, as far as we know, and they are of very limited extent. 

 The drifts are more extensive, and probably deposited at different 

 times and under different conditions. Two are distinguished by 

 Mr. Selwyn for Victoria, and they are of different ages, accord- 

 ing to his opinion, namely, Miocene and Pliocene. Such forma- 

 tions are extremely important, as they contain the remains of 

 those strata which denudation, during immense geological periods, 

 has left to us. Thus they also retain the gold which has been 

 derived from the Cambrian and Silurian rocks. Wherever these 

 drifts are found overlying auriferous quartz veins, they are also 

 rich in alluvial gold, and they have proved the richest deposits in 

 the colonies, besides being the source of all those large masses 

 of gold which are called "nuggets," some of which have been of 

 enormous size and weight. The alluvial is shallow, and easily 

 worked, but there are instances where it has been covered with 

 outpourings of lava of 300 and 400 feet thick. 

 Z 



